Fireplace



E. V. WYATT April 8, 1958 FIREPLACE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w W flu v/mqvw41%-, 0. 4 III] iliJ ---1-15- B k. ,M Q

" INVENTOR.

April 8, 1958 I E. v. WYATT 2,829,634

FIREPLACE Filed Nov. 25, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fl 1 1 A F z/ 1/ i I Z12/ I 7 ,Z INVENTOR. Z7 1y @6452,

aw y efficient heat generator.

United States Patent FIREPLACE Ernest V. Wyatt, Williamsburg, Mass.

Application November 23, 1953, Serial No. 393,540

1 Claim. or. 126-121) construction of same, whereby a durable completedfireplace results.

Itis another object of the invention to provide an improvide heatingmeans for use in connection with a fireplace construction of theconventional designand through which the air of an adjacent room orrooms may be circulated for the efiicient heating of same by means ofnot only a primary heating system but also a secondary heating system,all adapted and arranged to provide a novel and improved constructionofthe type in which the primary' and secondary systems functionsimultaneously.

One of the primary purposes of my invention is to provide structural andoperational improvements in devices of the class to which reference hasbeen made, which improvements not only simplify the structure as such,but also provide important distinct advantages in strength, efi'iciency,case of operation, and the like.

It is another object of my invention to provide a unitary structurewhereby the rapid circulation of warm air is attained by novel andunique means, which overcome the disadvantages or otherwiseobjectionable features of other metal fireplaces known to the art andwhereby the necessity for baffles, electric fans, and othercontrivances, which have effected the high costs of prior art devices,is eliminated.

The conventional fireplace has been a relatively in- Most of the heatfrom combustion passes directly upwardly into thefiue and is therebydissipated and lost. Fireplaces have retained their popularity not fortheir efficiency as room heaters but more for their function asattractive ornamentations in the home.

The structure of my invention involves the utilization of two principalfeatures: firstly, means are provided for scooping or deflecting aircurrentsfrom the normal or natural path of movement as same enters theopening of the combustion chamber thereby forcing air through inlets orchannels into primary and secondary heating chambers therearound; andsecondarily, means are provided.

for further increasing the velocity of the moving air through theutilization of the jet expansion principle.

it is a well accepted principle in the science of jet propulsion that byraising the temperature of an enclosed invention.

2,829,634 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 "ice of this principle forms one of thebasic features of this invention.

That is to say, I introduce cool air from the outside or room atmospherethrough and immediately adjacent a unitary structure which is disposedin a conventional fireplace. By means of this forced introduction ofair, I produce forced drafts of air peripherally and perimetrically ofthe construction Which establishes lines of flow therearound and/ ortherepast where, under accelerated velocities, same is evacuated back tothe outside orroom atmosphere as warmed or heated air. a

For purposes of reducing the explanation of my application to simpleterms, I would compare the unitary construction of my invention to asquare sheet metal stove wherein one side thereof has been removed.Obviously,

with thesaid one side removed, the control of the air admitted into thestove becomes impossible and the chiciency of the stove is lost. So itis with the device of my Same functions to-otfset the efiiciency lossescommon to the conventional open fireplaces which are similar to theabove referred to stove with one side thereof removed. That is to say,the fireplace of my invention is something more than the conventionalfireplace with only the usual opening in the forward face thereof. Otherfeatures are combined therewith which provide the new and novel resultsclaimed thereby.

In the case of a room in a house where a fireplace is located, the coolair flow is generally along the floor for a depth ofthree feet more orless.

' As the moving air moves toward the fireplace opening. a considerablevelocity is generated around the perimeter of the fireplace opening. Itis this movement which is made use of herein as the basis for furtherstimulating the circulation of air as it makes contact with the wallsurfaces of the unitary structure of my invention and moves therethroughand/or therearound as the case may be.

Other prime objects of my invention include: first, the securement of ahigher degree of efficiency and greater degree of variety in the mannerof work performed therewith than has heretofore been possible with priorart constructions; second, the attainment of a higher speed ofconstruction and assembly of the device due to its simplification ofdesign and its unique composition of parts; thirchthe provision of animproved fireplace which may be made more economically and with feweroperations in the manufacture of its parts, as well as in the assemblyof the same, than prior devices known in the art; fourth, the provisionof a construction which may be readily installed with respect to thevarious purposes for which it is intended, and fifth, the provision ofsuch other improvements in and relating tofireplace constructions of thetype above referred to as are hereinafter described and claimed.

All of the objects cited above, I accomplish by means of such structureand relative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by aperusal of the description below and by various specific features whichwill be hereinafter set forth. To these and other ends and with theforegoing and various other novel features and advantages and objects ofmy invention, my invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and in a combination and arrangement of parts, all as willbe hereinafter pointed out in the claims annexed and more fullydescribed in connection with the drawings vwherein Fig. 1 is a frontelevational view of a fireplace construction provided with the unitaryair heater structure of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on the line 3-3 of Fig. Fig. .4 is asec tional view on the line 4-4of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of one of the cold airinlets shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a small scale front elevational view of the lower portion ofthe fireplace construction and unitary air heater structure shown inFig. l incorporating certain other modifications.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example ofa physical embodiment of the invention in which the parts are combinedand arranged in accordance with a form thereof which I have devised forthe practical application of the principles of the invention.Additionally, I have shown certain modifications which I contemplate asfalling within the scope of this invention. It will be understood thatother changes and alterations are contemplated within the scope of theclaim, and without departing from the broad principles of the invention.

In the following description and claim, various details are identifiedby specific names for convenience. These names, however, are intended tobe as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, I have shown an improvedunitary air heater structure in connection with a fireplace of brick orsimilar material.

The fireplace construction is of the conventional design and includes arear wall 10, spaced opposite side walls 12 and 12, a bottom wall 14,and a front wall 16 having the usual fireplace recess or opening 18 inthe lower portion of the front wall 16 and normally located within aroom of a house or the like.

The lower portion of the fireplace construction is provided with ahollow interior 19, the fireplace being more or less shell-like incharacter, as is well known.

It is in this interior i9 and the recess or opening 18 that the unitaryair heater structure about to be described is disposed.

A chamber 20 within the walls of the fireplace offers communicationbetween the fire space thereunder and the chimney (not shown)thereabove.

A down-draft or shelf 22 of the conventional design is horizontallydisposed at the bottom of the chamber 20.

The unitary air heater structure includes a lower horizontally disposedwall or floor member 30 having an angularly disposed baflle ordeflecting lip 32 depending downwardly along the forward edge thereof.

The member 30 has a rearward edge portion 34 which may be secured to therear wall in any convenient manner for support purposes.

The unitary structure further includes a pair of substantiallyvertically disposed rear wall members 36 and 38 which are held in spacedrelation relative to the member 30 at the rearward portion thereof so asto form a double walled or hollow rearmost wall section (see Fig. 3.)

The lower extremity 36' of the wall member 36 is disposed substantiallyvertically relative to the horizontal axis of the member 30 and theportion of the wall member 36 upwardly thereof diverges slightly so asto provide the rearward wall of a combustion chamber of the knownconfiguration and design.

In Fig. 3, the divergence of the wall member 36 is greatly exaggeratedso as to illustrate the diverging relationship of the wall members 36and 38, the importance of which will soon be observed.

The lower extremity 40 of the wall member 38 is of arcuate shapethroughout the width thereof and is fixed at its lowermost edge to thelower wall member 30 thereby providing an enlarged turbulence chamber 42horizontally across the rearmost side of the structure.

Upwardly of the turbulence chamber, the wall member 38 is positioned soas to slightly diverge upwardly and rearwardly toward the rear wallmember 10 of the fireplace construction.

Thus, it will be observed that a choke'or restricted throat 44 isprovided having a certain width (indicated by the letter e) between themembers 36 and 38.

Upwardly of the choke, the slightly diverging walls 36 and 38 are formedso as to provide an expansion chamber or trunk 46 therebetween. At acertain distance (indicated by the letter g) upwardly of the choke, thewidth (indicated by the letter 1) between the members 36 and 38 isgreater than the dimension e.

I have determined that when wall members 36 and 38 are disposed atangles of approximately 3 /2 away from a center line drawn through thechoke 44, the best results are obtained. I have determined that thewidth e should be approximately 1" and the width f should beapproximately 4" where the distance g is approximately 2 4".

The upper extremities of the wall members 36 and 38 are curved upwardlyand outwardly (as shown) in substantial parallelism so as to provide apair of spaced forward conduits having outlets 46 and 46 and a rearconduit therebetween having an outlet 48.

The forward outlets 46 extend through appropriately spaced openings 50in the front wall 16 of the fireplace construction and offercommunication with the room being heated.

The rear outlet 48 extends through an appropriate opening 52 in the rearwall 10 of the fireplace construction and otters communication with anadjacent room, if

same is desired. Conceivably, such an outlet could be blocked ofl" bydamper or similar means where there was no need or desire for heating anadjacent room area.

points of jointure in any convenient manner.

Additionally, inner wall members 61 serve to enclose the inner sides ofeach of the forward conduits and inner wall members 61' serve to enclosethe opposite sides of the rearward conduit.

Bames 62 extend upwardly from the side wall members 60 and flareoutwardly in curving relation away from each other toward the respectiveside wall 12 of the fireplace construction terminating thereat at 64 andbeing secured thereto in any desired manner immediately above an opening66 through the wall 12.

A flue (designated by the numeral 1') is provided between the pair ofspaced forward conduits and adjacent the rearward conduit through whichthe products of combustion formed in the firebox of the structure whenin operation may pass upwardly via the route indicated by the flowarrows c to the chamber 20 and thence upwardly and outwardly through thechimney.

A pair of spaced cold air intakes are provided by a pair of half-roundconduits 72 which are fixed to the lower wall or floor member 30 andextend from the front of the structure to the rear thereof so as to forma pair of air passageways 71.

The inlets 70 of the intakes are open to the room in which the fireplaceis constructed and the rearward ends thereof are open and extend throughappropriate openings in the wall member 36 so as to provide directcommunication with the turbulence chamber 42.

The unitary structure further includes an upper front wall member havinga forward horizontally disposed section which is receivable within therecess 18 of the fireplace construction, so as to enclose same on theupper side thereof, and a rearward vertically disposed section 82 whichis joined to the opposite side walls 60 and to the wall members 61 asshown.

On each side of the unitary structure, a vertically disposed elongatedbafile member 161 extends angularly nd utwa d y awayifrom h forwa dsdsea ack d wall member 60 and is adapted to deflect certain of the airnormally passing into the combustion chamber through elongated portions18' of the recess 18 extending through the forward wall 16 of thefireplace construction as shown.

Similarly, the baffle 32 deflects certain of the air normally passinginto the combustion chamber through the portion of therecess 18 beneaththe unitary structure as shown.

The cool room air thus deflected by the bafiles 32 and .161 and 161passes into the interior of the fireplace construction and. moves pastthe outer sides of the outer walls 30, 60 and 60 of the unitarystructure.

Inactnal operation, the cool room air flows naturally into thecombustion chamber in the well known manner. As before stated, however,as the moving air moves to- .Ward the firebox, a considerable velocityis generated creating pressure around the perimeter of the fireplaceopening.

It is this movement and resulting pressure which is utilized as anotherfeature of my invention as a basis for further stimulating the aircirculation.

Primarily, portions of this cool room air are deflected, and forced bypressure of the air mass forwardly of the fireplace without artificialor mechanical means, find their way into the intakes through the inlets70.

The air moves through the passageways 71 into the *tubulence chamber 42and in such transit, it will be appreciated that the air is warmed byradiation from the walls of the structure, same being heated by the heatwithin the combustion chamber or firebox.

The flow of this air through what will be referred to as the primarysystem is indicated by the flow arrows a. In the turbulence chamber 42,the air is deflected upwardly by the arcuate shaped portion 40 of therearward wall member 38 into and through the choke or throat 44.

It is at this throat that the jet principle is being ap plied, thevelocity of the air increasing by expansion as it is warmed and as itpasses through the restricted throat, into the expansion chamber 46.

As the air continues to be heated, it further expands and the velocitythereby is further increased whereby the upward movement thereof throughthe conduits and out the outlets 46 and 48 is greatly accelerated.

As aforesaid, the primary air system comprises the admission of the coolair from the adjacent room through the passageways 71 of the intakesinto the turbulence chamber 42, from which it passes through the throat42 into the expansion chamber 46 and thence outwardly via the conduitsthrough the outlets 46 and 48 into the adjacent room areas.

Simultaneously therewith, other portions of thev air moving toward thecombustion chamber are deflected by means of the baflie 32, 161 and 161through the elongated openings provided at the perimeter of thestructure at the sides and bottom thereof.

The direction of the air of this system, distinguished from the abovereferred to primary air system, and identified herein as the secondaryair system, is indicated by the flow arrows b.

In the secondary air system, the cool air from the room is deflected enroute to the firebox by means of battles 32, 161 and/ or 161 through therespective adjacent openings 18 and 18 into the chamber 19 defined bythe inner sides of the wall members 10, 12, 14 and 16 of the fireplaceconstruction and the outer surfaces of the wall members 30, 60 and 62 ofthe unitary structure.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified form of the cool air intake shown inFig. 3 wherein the half-round conduit 72 provides an air inlet 70 and anair passageway 71' therethrough, the member 72' being fixed to the floormember 30' and said member 30' having the downwardly depending bafflemember 32', all as before described.

The uppermost forward end 73 of the member 72' extends outwardly beyondthe forward end of the member 0' wh b a mp ve mean r fac ita in th vtake ofair through theinlet 70' is provided. is to say, the overhangingendportion 13' serves ,to incnease the so-called scooping action of;the,intake whereby an i l fi tdnua fi of i u edi to the passa e- In themodification shown in'Fig. 6, I haveshownthe front wall; 16' of afireplace constructionof the usual ,design.

The unitary air heaterstructure receivable in1the conventional'openingin the wall 16 of the fireplace construction includes a lowerhorizontally disposed wall member 30' having an angularly disposedbafile or deflection member 32? dependingdownwardly alongth e forwardedge thereof; The rearwardend of the wall member 30 is supported by therear wallof the fireplace as before described.

V Thwn y s m tvtetu th r ncludss h pa ro s st ti l y v i fli pnssd a wam e s s ch a aforedescribedandonly one of which (.wallfmeniber 37) i h mB zm a 1 th a ed a W l memb the turbulencechamber, throat and expansionchamber, all previously described, are provided.

Vertically disposed side wall members 60 extend upwandly from the lowerwall member 30 at opposite sides of the unitary air heater structure andare secured to the rear wall members in any usual manner.

In lieu of the pair of spaced cold air inlets above described, in thismodification a horizontally disposed wall member 72 is disposed aboveand in spaced relation from member 30 so as to provide an inlet 70' atthe forward face of the unitary structure adjacent the room area and anoutlet at the rearward extremity thereof, which outlet is incommunication with the turbulence chamber above described.

The modified form also includes the upper front wall member aspreviously described whereby the conventional fireplace constructionchamber is provided.

The vertically disposed lips 161 extend angularly and outwardly from theforward side edges of the members 60' and 60 and deflect certain of theair from passing into the interior of the unitary structure through theelongated openings 24' through the forward wall 16 of the fireplaceconstruction on the opposite sides thereof.

The air is also deflected from the unitary structure to the undersidethereof through the opening 26', as above described, by means of thebaffie 32'.

By means of this modification, the irregular shape of the intakes shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 4 is replaced by a double-walled form of floor membershown wherein a pair of air inlets are provided beneath the firebox.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely asbeing illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by theforegoing description, and all modifications and variations as fallwithin the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appendedclaim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

A unitary fireplace heater characterized by a unitary structure adaptedto be disposed within a fireplace combustion chamber of a fireplace andcomprising, a lower horizontal wall member disposed substantiallythroughout the width of the fireplace combustion. chamber, an upperhorizontal wall member disposed substantially throughout the width ofthe fireplace combustion chamber and spaced above said lower wallmember, vertically disposed side wall members on opposite sides of saidupper and lower wall members, a double-walled vertically disposed rearwall member at the rear of and connecting said upper and lower and sidewall members to form "therewith an open-faced fire box forwardly of saidrear wall'memben'cool air intake means disposed above and adjacent saidlower wall member and communicating with a turbulence chamber disposedrearwardly of and throughout the width of said 'rear wall member, saidturbulence chamber being formed by a vertically dependend portion. ofthe rearwand wall of said rear wall memher, said rear Wall memberincluding a restricted throat formed by the convergence of the spacedforward and sion of the heated gases during passage therethrough fromsaid turbulence chamber, the upper portions of the spaced forward andrearward walls of said rear wall member flaring upwardly and outwardlyabove the plane of said upper horizontal wall member to providedistribution means for facilitating the discharge of heated air from therestricted throat and tapered expansion chamber through communicationwith a plurality of outlets into rooms adjacent the fireplace.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 42,312Wellman Apr. 12, 1864 211,457 Childers Ian. 21, 1879 236,370 Smith Jan.4, 1881 394,653 Jackson Dec. 18, 1888 1,596,456 Sala Aug. 17, 19261,653,466 Nickels Dec. 30, 1927 2,705,488 Wright Apr. 5, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 154,709 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1920 1,144 Great Britain Mar. 27,1873

